I Was Bitten and Badly Injured By a Neighbor’s Dog. Can I Sue Them?
Dog attacks in Texas can present serious dangers, especially to young children. Nearly five million people are bitten by dogs every year in America, and almost a million of those bites require immediate medical attention. Sometimes, the consequences of a dog bite can be devastating, requiring extensive reconstructive surgery, physical therapy, and more. If you have been personally injured by a neighbor’s dog, you may want to know if you can take action.
Texas Follows the One-Bite Rule
Texas law allows the owner of a dangerous animal to be held strictly liable for injuries caused by the animal if the animal was known to be dangerous. When animals attack people or act as if they want to attack people, owners must be hyper-vigilant about ensuring their animal does not have the opportunity to cause others harm. For dogs specifically, this often means the dog has already bitten or tried to bite someone and an owner must keep them leashed at all times.
However, even if a dog owner did not know their animal was dangerous, a victim may still be able to recover compensation if they can prove the dog’s owner was negligent. For example, people are often bitten by a neighbor’s dog when the dog is allowed to roam off-leash and leaves the owner’s property. In this case, the owner letting the dog roam could constitute negligence, especially when the dog attack was not provoked.
Can I Recover Compensation for PTSD After a Dog Bite?
In addition to the serious physical injuries dog attacks can cause, the stress of being attacked by a dog can make it difficult or impossible to encounter dogs and even to leave home. Victims of dog bites may be able to recover compensation for a variety of issues, including:
- Medical expenses, including anticipated rehabilitation or surgery
- Lost income
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional distress, pain, and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Whether you want to pursue damages for any or all of these issues will depend on the unique circumstances of your case. Having an experienced dog bite attorney who can help you gather evidence, consult experts, and file a lawsuit makes the process much more manageable.
Contact a Fort Worth Injury Lawyer
Dog attacks can cause severe physical and psychological damage that lasts long into the future. If you or someone you love has been the victim of a dog bite or attack, consider contacting a Dallas dog attack attorney with Clark Law Group. We take every case seriously and will meet with you to explore every avenue and determine whether pursuing a lawsuit would help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us now at 469-906-2266 to find out more.
Source:
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.822.htm#A